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Earthing a mast?

For discussion of DIY weather equipment - sensors, accessories, improvements to existing kit etc
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Truscom
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon 14 Nov 2011 10:21 pm
Weather Station: Maplin N96GY
Operating System: Windows Vista
Location: Leeds, England
Contact:

Earthing a mast?

Post by Truscom »

So.. I have bought my weather station, connected it to the computer and it all works. Now I need to put the equipment outside on the side of my house. I have bought a TV aerial bracket and mast to fit the equipment to. Do I need to earth this mast / equipment? If I do any suggestions how to?
Thanks.
Martin

Follow me on Twitter @garforthweather
b.e.wilson
Posts: 89
Joined: Tue 26 Jul 2011 11:07 pm
Weather Station: Davis Vantage VUE
Operating System: Windows 10
Location: Utah, United States
Contact:

Re: Earthing a mast?

Post by b.e.wilson »

If there are no wires entering the house, and with a wireless station there won't be, then earthing the mast is optional. The main reason to earth tall metal objects is so that lightning won't be brought into the house. If your mast is bolted to the side of the house, then you should make a path for the lightning to prefer the earth over your house.

To earth it use 6 gauge copper or fatter wire, and using copper clamps if you can find them, electrically connect ("bond") the mast to a 1/2 inch or fatter ground rod at the base of the mast. Lightning doesn't like to make bends, so keep the copper wire pretty straight.
Truscom
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon 14 Nov 2011 10:21 pm
Weather Station: Maplin N96GY
Operating System: Windows Vista
Location: Leeds, England
Contact:

Re: Earthing a mast?

Post by Truscom »

Thanks for your reply, that has really helped. At the moment I have tried a site in my garden and monitoring that....
Martin

Follow me on Twitter @garforthweather
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